Year in Rear View 2006
911 Turbo Photos
Another year, and another few hundred cars later, we have grownmore than anyone could have expected to (I’m going to be a size 40 waist pretty soon - JY). As Trevor said in one of his reviews this year, it would be nice if we could improve from year to year as much as cars do from generation to generation. Cars are getting really good at every level of the market, which made the worst cars of the year hard to pick, because even though we may not have liked them, you could end up finding them on someone else’s favorites list; it all comes down to preferences and the fact that each of us did not get to drive the same cars, so each list may be slightly skewed toward our limited experiences and eclectic mix of personalities. Anyhow, we hope you enjoyed this year’s reviews, and we hope you enjoy next year’s reviews, but first enjoy a review of this year in rear view.
Our Glorious Leader, Trevor Hofmann
Best Car you drove this year:
Ferrari’s F430 Spider hardly suits my wife and three-child lifestyle, but a day behind the wheel from Portland, Oregon to the Pacific Coast and then back again was by far the most enjoyable in recent memory. Of course, the sun’s beaming presence allowed the proverbial wind-in-the-hair pleasures, but more so it opened up my ears to the auditory sensation of the hyperactive V8’s induction system sucking bucket loads of air past my left ear thanks to my unforgiving right foot.
It’s not that the F430 is the fastest car I’ve driven this year either, the new Porsche Turbo probably takes that honor. But while the Turbo blats out its dominance with dictatorial Prussian efficiency, the Ferrari belts out operatic rills as if Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, Pacini and Mercadante were all condensed and then rolled into one mechanical whole, the 4.2-liter V8 being the collaborative result of their lives’ effort. No doubt opera fans are growing nodes at the very thought, but I’ll take a day in an F430 Spider over an evening of La Traviata at the drop of my top hat and tails. And I happen to love opera. It’s a totally consuming, absolutely visceral experience that took all of a second and a half to remind me of why I got into this business in the first place.
Honorable Mentions:
1. Porsche 911 Turbo (absolutely nuts!!!)
2. Exige S (it should cost tens of thousands more and nothing I’ve driven handles better)
3. Maserati Quattroporte (the ultimate balance of luxury and sport)
4. Audi RS4 (another ultimate balance of luxury and sport… hmmm, sensing a pattern here)
5. Ford GT (Ford really can build superb cars when it sets its mind to it)
6. … And then there was the ‘07 Shelby GT500 (ouch), anything with an SRT badge on it,
and did I mention the Bentley Flying Spur? Ugh. too many lost loves in this old heart.
Worst Car you drove this year:
Smart fortwo: OK, it’s not available in the U.S. (at least not directly from smart, otherwise known as Mercedes-Benz, and would should be really glad it isn’t, as it does everything any other car does, although poorly. Slowest acceleration, worst handling, pathetically narrow cabin for too-close-for-comfort shoulder room, would only start when it felt like it, radio didn’t work, seeped diesel fumes through the side window and it starts at a comparatively high price with only a so-so warranty. But boy did I like it when it came time to fill up.
Favorite Review you wrote this year:
Trevor couldn’t pick for himself because he loves all his reviews equally(and no, it’s not a religious thing) so I’ll name his Toyota FJ Cruiser Off-Road Test as my favorite (Jonathan Yarkony). And his Porsche Cayman S Track Test is also pretty good, if you have a good attention span-it’s really long, even by Trevor’s standards.
Best Concept from this year:
NOT the Chrysler Imperial, but maybe the Dodge Challenger, because it takes me back too many years to a simpler time of Pink Floyd’s Animals LP (yeah, vinyl) and it’s also going into production. a barometer of a very good concept.
Best Event you attended this year:
Le Mans with Audi, which won of course (with the historic R10 diesel), then off to Salzburg, Austria to drive the sensational new TT coupe through the mountains before heading to Ingolstadt in the new A8L TDI to take in the Audi museum, etc. One week of motorhead bliss (not the band, but that would’ve been cool too) which will be hard to top.
Resident Whacko, Jonathan Yarkony
Best Car you drove this year:
Part of me wants to be reasonable and name a car that isattainable (for me and for many others in the new car market) like the Mazdaspeed3, but I was grossly corrupted by a long weekend in Audi’s RS4, a car that redefines the laws of desire in my brain. I cannot, in good conscience, deny its absolute hold over the car-lust center of my cerebrum. It offers tantalizing power, with dominatrix-like control even in the wettest of conditions, cracking its quattro-whip without mercy, exerting its will on the road and submitting it with an unexpected grace and elegance. The RS4 goes, turns and stops like no other car I’ve ever experienced before, and the incidental factor that it is practical and subtly but undeniably gorgeous just adds to its mythic status in my mind. The Corvette I drove was probably faster, and I think less expensive too, but the Audi über-sedan was so masterfully connected to the road and intuitively controllable that it edges out on my top podium spot.
Honorable Mentions:
1. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (see below)
2. Mazdaspeed3 (what a surge of power for a car coming in at just over $22K!)
3. Toyota FJ Cruiser (had so much fun taking it off road and it brought constant smiles because it reminded me of a big, silly Tonka truck)
4. Chevy Silverado (amazing engineering-truly “like a rock”)
5. Jaguar XK Convertible (for another advertising tag line, “Gorgeous”)
Worst Car:
I feel slightly bad for mentioning it, because in and of itselfit is not a bad car, but I absolutely hated our Yaris 3-door hatchback long-term tester. No frills, no fun and seats that were seemingly designed to cause me pain (the only thing worse I sat in this year was an Accord Coupe) left a miserable impression. Add to that a noisy engine, delinquent transmission and Justin bugging me for log entries and I resented pretty much every minute I had to spend in it. In fact, it was so bad that when it was in my possession I usually ended up driving my own car because I just couldn’t take it. As for disappointing cars, I was hoping that the Caliber R/T would be a little better than the puddle of poor visibility and sloppy power delivery that it was, but I still think it’s at least better value than the Yaris.
Favorite Review:
Two favorites actually: the first is my Audi S4 quattro Road Trip to Boulder, Colorado, in which I can only hope that I captured a bit of the magic of driving through the canyon roads of the Rockies; the other is my review of the Corvette Z06, because having the chance to tour the facility where they build the engines and then getting to tour the Corvette C6.R paddock at the ALMS race at Mosport and learning about the Z06’s development as an integral connection to racing was priceless-that and the car itself is a monster. Another spot in my heart is reserved for the Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD Road & Off-Road Test, an SUV that barely seems to be getting much attention in the press because it’s not a crossover, but it is an incredible vehicle and driving it on the same day as a GC SRT8 also highlighted how amazing it is.
Best Concept:
Even though it was only a 2-D concept, I’m still hung upon Hummer’s O2 Concept. For those of you that missed it, it was entered into an environmental sustainability contest at the LA Auto Show, and it proposes to have a layered glass greenhouse with algae in a liquid solution that allows them to convert CO2 and sunlight into oxygen and release it back into the atmosphere. As for the vehicle aspect of it, each of four wheels is driven by its own electric motor powered by a miniature fuel cell. Feasible it’s not, but it is a fabulous concept that would be proactive in reversing the environmental damage caused by all fossil-fuel burning vehicles. As for more realistic cars, VW’s R GTI concept from the SEMA tuner show is something I’d love to own.
Best Event:
It was really a toss-up between two Chevrolet events. The first was seeing the ALMS race at Mosport on the first weekend of September, with Cadillac CTS-V racing in the SCCA Speed GT class and the Corvette C6.R in the ALMS GT1 class-I got to meet Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell and others, but I also had the chance to take a spin in the street version of Corvette’s race car, the Z06. At the other end of the spectrum, and at times what felt almost like the ends of the world, GM sent us out to the Maritimes to drive the GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado. The scenery was breathtaking at different points along the route, which skirted all over New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and had us eating lunch at a lighthouse right on the Bay of Fundy. Oh yeah, and going to Detroit’s North American International Auto Show for the first time was pretty awesome too… overwhelming, but awesome.
Geek of All Trades, Justin Couture
Best Car:
If I had to pick just one car it’d be the Volkswagen GTI. I haven’t had somuch fun in a car since, well, never. Okay, scratch that - it was the MINI Cooper two and a half years ago, but I’m hoping you really do get the point. The new GTI is a thoroughly amazing vehicle. It’s built just as well as any BMW or Audi, it handles with the effervescence of a proper performance hatchback and it’s got a ton of character. What’s more is that it’s not always a head-banging riot; it can be practical and refined when you need it to be, plus, at just thirty grand, it’s affordable too. You couldn’t ask for more out of a car which is why it lands at the top of my list.
Honorable Mention:
1. Jaguar XK Coupe
2. Ford GT
3. Honda Fit
4. Audi S8
5. Bentley Continental GTC
Worst Car:
I don’t think that there were any bad cars but there were somedisappointing ones. The one that topped my list was the Saturn Sky Red Line / Pontiac Solstice GXP. How could Saturn (and Pontiac, for that matter) get something so good looking so wrong? Its engine is powerful, yes but it takes a decade and a half for you to feel the boost. Its automatic is dim-witted, has no manual mode and all of the sounds to come out of its dual exhaust pipes are unenthusiastic and labored. It’s supposed to be nimble and lithe, yet its steering is vague and the brakes are woolen and it takes about a decade for those turbos to be felt. It pitches when you hit the gas, dives when you brake, rolls in the bends. It might be comfortable to drive over long distances, but it has no space so you can’t carry anything along with you. Plus, it’s about as effective at keeping the elements out as walking around in a hurricane with a colander on your head. Burn it.
Favorite Review:
I seem to have a knack for writing eulogies. I get all emotional when writing them, so the best I’d have to say went to the VW Phaeton and the Honda Insight. These were two vehicles that embodied the essence of what I consider ultimate engineering. One had no limits on luxury, and the other regarded nothing as too much for fuel efficiency. Both vehicles didn’t make profits, and both in my opinion died far too early.
Best Concept:
Honda FCX. Want to know what the world will be driving in a couple of years? Try that on for size.
Best Event:
This would have to be driving across the Southwest United States in Bentley’s Continental GTC from Napa Valley to Vegas through Yosemite and Death Valley. Not only was the scenery beautiful, but the car made a lasting impression: it’s the world’s best convertible, no ifs ands or buts.
Lady in the Trunk, Alexandra Straub:
Best Car:
There were so many good cars but if I had to pick one it would be the2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. This car is hands down fantastic. It’s hot, has the power to boot and it’s a convertible!! I pretty much love everything about it. If I had to narrow it down to why I chose this car, it’s because of the feeling I got when I drove it. It made me excited about life.
Honorable Mention:
1. Hyundai Accent
2. Acura RDX
3. Chevrolet Avalanche
4. BMW Z4
5. MazdaSpeed3
Worst Car:
It’s hard to pick a ‘worst car.’ It seems that even the el cheapo cars are pretty good. But if I had to choose one, it would be the Dodge Caliber R/T. I just wasn’t that impressed. As cool as it is, it feels underpowered and is overpriced.
Favorite Review:
Saturn Sky, Hyundai Elantra
Best Concept:
Toyota Auris. I’m always keen on seeing what amazing product they can come up with. And I love the new ‘Vibrant Clarity’ styling. Toyota is taking some unconventional lines and making them cool.
Best Event:
Jeep Compass launch in Portland, Oregon. It was well organized, the car was great and good times were had all around.
The Race Car Driver, Budd Stanley:
Best Car:
2006 was a little different for me as this was the first year that Ibegan writing for this publication. In my time writing, I only drove 14 vehicles, but amongst those 14 I had the pleasure of driving Ariel’s 2006 Atom2. My time with the car was minimal, but the impression it left on me was a life altering experience that changed the way I thought about true driving pleasures. The Atom has to be one of the world’s most single-minded vehicles. Its purpose? To go fast. To go very fast. Faster than any other car on the road. As some may know, I come from a motorsports background, so the Atom2 in particular attracted me in every performance aspect possible. What other car can you exit soaking wet, your forehead numb from water droplets hitting at well over 60 mph, teeth full of remnants of once living insects, hair pulled straight back, and with a body temperature that may be fatally close to hypothermic, albeit with a big dumb smile on your face. Only the Atom2 can do that, and since it was by far the most memorable and most exciting driving experience I’ve had without a crash helmet and 3 layer nomex suit, it is with no doubt that the Atom was my favorite for 2006.
Honorable Mention:
1. Porsche Cayman
2. Honda Fit
3. BMW X5
4. Audi A8
5. Mazda MX-5
Worst Car:
I was not impressed with all the cars I tested this year however. Let’s face it,some cars are good, and there are a lot that aren’t. For me the Dodge Caliber had to be the car I would rather forget about. Although I find it hard to put it out of my mind as there are so many of them on the street. Many people obviously don’t agree with me, but I just did not connect with the Caliber in any way. When it came to looks, build quality, interior, performance or handling, I was left disappointed and frustrated.
Favorite Review:
It’ll be that Atom2 again… or was it the BMW X5?
Best Concept:
Can’t think of one at the moment.
Best Event:
BMW put on the best event of the year by far, when they introduced the 2007 X5 to the North American auto press down in South Carolina. We were presented with two days of driving on some of the most magnificently twisty roads I have ever experienced, along with a half day’s session on BMW’s own Performance Driving Center road course. After several fuel top ups, one windshield, and a destroyed set of tires and brakes, I left South Carolina with an evil smile on my face, and a satisfied driving urge. This also gave more than enough material to write what I thought as my best review, although the Ariel certainly was one I was proud of as well.
Conclusion:
Interestingly, while no one picked the same favorite, there were a number of cars that showed up on various honorable mention lists, namely Audi’s RS4, Honda’s Fit, Ford’s GT, and the Mazdaspeed3, although it’s likely that various Ferraris, Porsches, Lotuses and Bentleys might have made the grade if available to all on staff, as was previously mentioned. There may have been others on the sign me up for a lashing list too, although haughty old M-B doesn’t just let anyone drive its cars. So in the end it may have seemed like a bit of a hate-fest for Dodge’s new Caliber, and this is where it should be mentioned that none of our writers knew what the other ones had picked prior to choosing (except those two conniving ones in Toronto that no doubt compared notes… one of which came up with the rear end story… oops, year in rear view story in the first place, and then carried it through to fruition – many thanks Jon. No doubt everyone will be raving about the Caliber next year when the 300-hp SRT4 version appears, but we’ll just have to wait and see about that one, now won’t we. Before then we’ll have even more tantalizing cars to drive, more mesmerizing places to visit, and more verbose ways of telling you about everything in between throughout 2007. We hope you join us for the ride - Ed.